Leclerc Is Back on Ice Tonight

Forward Mike Leclerc tried to place the name of his center for tonight’s game.

“Fed, Fed, uh, Fed-something,” Leclerc said.

That’s how long it has been since Leclerc played in a game for the Ducks. Sergei Fedorov was an opponent last spring, now he is Leclerc’s center.

It has been a difficult eight months for Leclerc, who will make his season debut tonight against Phoenix. He had surgery on his left knee in June. Duck officials expected him back in November, which turned out to be more hope than fact. He has watched the Ducks’ season unravel as he has rehabilitated.

About the only upbeat thing that happened in those months was that Leclerc’s daughter, Chloe, was born during training camp.

Now, he finally can play. He was cleared last week by doctors and pronounced himself ready after Tuesday’s practice

“We had a real long practice [Monday], and I wanted to see how it felt the next day,” Leclerc said. “It felt good, so let’s try it out.”

How much a recovered Leclerc can mean to the Ducks is clear, considering how much an injured one meant to them last spring.

Playing on one good knee, he had two goals and 11 points during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored the game-winning goal or assisted on it in five consecutive Duck victories, all either in overtime or the last two minutes.

“Just having him out there will be a real big plus,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s a big guy who can play.”

Babcock, though, is guarded about expecting too much.

“Mike has to be reasonable with himself with his performance,” Babcock said. “He has been out a long time.”

Leclerc scored 20 goals in 2001-02, the only injury-free season of his four-year career. He had nine goals last season, playing on a bad left knee. He said it would take him several games to get back into game shape.

“I just want to do what I can out there, whether it’s for 10 minutes or 20 minutes,” Leclerc said.

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The Ducks recalled forward Chris Kunitz from minor league Cincinnati. Kunitz’s return still leaves the Ducks with only 12 healthy forwards. Michael Holmqvist, who was expected to return from an abdominal injury, sat out practice Tuesday, and Babcock said he was not expected back for some time.

Forward Rob Niedermayer (pulled groin muscle) and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh (shoulder surgery) are also not expected back for some time.

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TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- XPRS (1090).

Records -- Ducks 17-23-8-7; Coyotes 18-19-14-3.

Record vs. Coyotes -- 1-1-0-1.

Update -- Since goalie Brian Boucher’s record shutout streak of 332 minutes 1 second, the Coyotes are 2-6-3-1. They have given up an average of 3.2 goals a game in that time.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.